Top 10 Vehicles for Off-Road Use in 2009

Top 10 2008 Vehicles For Off-Road Use 2008 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

2008 Jeep Wrangler What we thinkThe Wrangler is the poster child of renegade, blaze-your-own-trail fun. With a convertible cloth top, this rig was built for you to play outside. There’s no wondering why this vehicle has a cult following, either. Jeep has spent decades perfecting the science of grip in even the most slippery situations. In the Rubicon trim, the Wrangler’s incredible ground clearances and nifty tricks like a front sway bar that can be disconnected electronically in low gear put it miles of hard trail ahead of the competition.

2008 HUMMER H2 What we thinkThough you’re more likely to see H2s at the mall than on the mountain side, this is one bruiser that’s got the guts to get you through almost anything you can throw at it. The truck is powered by a mammoth 6.2-liter V-8 putting out close to 400 horsepower. With the optional electronic air ride, the descendant of the legendary military machine stretches to accommodate almost 10 inches of ground clearance—more than enough to get you over any obstacle.

2008 Land Rover LR3 What we thinkThe LR3 performs as well on the trail as it looks on the streets of Manhattan. The essence of luxury, Land Rover has managed to perfect the art of exuding off-tarmac confidence without succumbing to gaudy fender flares and outrageously knobby tires over the years. While there’s no doubt that this truck’s 300 horsepower V-8 will get you through anything you throw at it, its $49,300 MSRP base price lands it farther down the hill from its competition.

2008 HUMMER H3 What we thinkAll jokes about buying alpha status aside, the H2’s little brother is anything but. Hummer pushed this rig’s wheels as far forward and back as possible, giving the truck impressive angles of approach and departure. That means you can go over more while damaging less, and with a base price steeper than any mountain grade, that’s a good thing.

If you take a look at the dealer options for vehicles, they can seem pretty pricey and the question arises, can I get a better deal aftermarket? Each option holds a different answer to that question. Read on to learn how choosing the right options at the dealer can save you a bundle of money.